Flexible wear-resisting sealing fabric and method of making the same



March 14, 1933. l 900 904 FLEXIBLE wEARREsIsTING SEALING FABRIC AND METHOD oF MAKING THE SAME E, H. BRGER Filed April 18. 1929 BY EMM Nm TTL/Z'JL Patented 14,

UNITED. STATES PATENT oFFic-E EDWARD E. BERGER, OF VIL'NV'IILE, NEW JERSEY', ASSIGNOB TO' JOHNS-ml CORPORATION, OF YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OI NEW YORK.

Appiiemoa' nieparaprii is.

This invention relates toa'gilexible wear resisting sealing fabric, and the method of making and'treating the sametorender it vapor and fluid-proof. Y

One ofthe primary objects of this inveny tion is -to provide a semi-iexibletreated fabric adapted to be used as a sealing land covering medium, and which is not only gas and vapor proof, but alsoV waterproof, and one that can be subjected to long continued use in the presence ofchemical fluids and gases without deterioration.

Another important obj ect of this invention is to rovide a durable and pliable fabric of a suicient wear-resisting nature to withstand long continued iexing service. y

This invention not only contemplates the provision of a strong wear-resisting flexible fabric which is both water and gas-proof, but one that will resist fire and withstand high temperature. e This invention involves the treating of a suitable fabric to giveitithe above and other desired characteristics. The fabric, briefly stated, consists of an interwoven cloth made of a fire-resisting cord or yarn which is preferably reenforced with strands or cords of a.

'metallic or textile nature.

This fabric is treated with a rubber compound of a suitable nature to produce a waterproof side, and the other side is coated with a special comund to render it gas and chemical resisting.

The fabric made in accordancewith this invention has not only the characteristics as stated above, but others which particularly adapt it to beused as an apron to seal the space between a floating roof and the guides therefor; also, to seal t e spaces between the shoes which form the guiding means for floating roofs.

With the above and other objects in view, this invention consists of novel constructions, combinations and arrangement of parts and materials which will be` fully set forth in the following specification and claims, and illustrated in the accompanyingv drawing, in which: a; l

Fig. 1 discloses a top perspective view of section of the fabric with a portion of the waterproofing compound removed.

ummm wm-ansisrme same nismo un mnrrnon or luxure m Yenum im. serial no. slams.l

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale.

Fi 3 is a similar view of a slightly modified orm of theinvention; and l Figs 4 and 5 are broken-away sectional views of a portion of a tank and its floating top showing the application of the fabric. in several of its uses for which it is particularly adapted.

The drawing is only indicative of the embodiment of the invention, and referring to Figs. 1 and 2, reference numeral 11 designates a fabric which has a rough coarse finish in view of the heavy cord or yarn used. As shown, the fabric appears to be loosely woven, but in actual construction it is more or less closely woven, and the rough finish is due to the coarse yarn used. This rough coarse finish is advantageous, as it enables the` coatings upon application to become morenthorouglily locked or incorporated into the body of the fabric.

As hereinabove stated, the fabric comprises a fireresisting material preferably made of an asbestos cord or yarn, which is reenforced, as indicated at 16, Fig. 3, with a strand of a textile or metallic nature, preferably the latter in the form of fine wires which are spun or twisted with the asbestos yarn or roving to make a very strong cord or strand. These cords or strands are then woven into a fabric or cloth by the usual methods of weaving.

A fabric of the above nature is coated on one side to render it waterproof, as indicated at 10, and then on the other side with a specially prepared compound 12 to render it gas and vaporproof.

The waterproof coating 10 comprises a rubber compound, and may either be applied to the asbestos fabric 11 in the form of a thin mastic sheet and then rolled and friction calendered, or else in the form of a liquidlike cement compound b means of a brushin process, after which it may be rolled and ca endered. These applications may or may not be cured; however, in the preferred form the are cured and vulcanized by the application of heat and pressure in the usual manner.

petroleum and its derivatives.

After the waterproof coatin has been completed, the reverse side of t e fabric 1s coated with a com ound 12, which resists the action of chemical) fumes, oil vapors, liquid Th1s compound is in the form of a paste or solutlon, and comprises either glue casein or gumarabic, a softening agent such as glycerine, glucose, or castor oil, and a settingagent, such as dicromate or formaldehyde mixed 1n Water, in proportions suitable to produce the proper consistency for coating. When formaldehyde is used as a setting agent, it maya either be mixed along with the other ingredients, or else omitted, and with the latter method the fabric is subsequently treated, before drying as hereinafter described, w1th a formaldehyde solution or exposed to the vapors thereof to set the compounds. After coating with a compound having a setting agent therein, the fabric may also be exposed to formaldehyde va ors so as to further set the compound and ma e it more res1st1ve.

A paste or solution of this nature may be applied by a brushing and a dryingprocess which is repeated several times to 1m regnate the fabric and to give a coating o sufficient thickness, after which it is thoroughly dried. This coating application may also be accomplished by a preliminary brushlng and dryin process to imiregnate the fabric, after whic 1t is subjecte to a dlppmg process, which comprises the dipping of the fabrlc into a solution contained 1n a tank and then drying upon a rack, this being repeated several times if desired and then subjected to a final drying. The fabric may also be coated by the dipping process alone. These stepsmay be repeated a suilicient number of times to produce a coatin of any desired thickness, as will be seen in F1g. 3 disclosing a modnied form of the invention in which the gas or vapor-resisting coating l5 is of a substantlal thlckness.

The fabric made in accordance with this invention has a wide range of uses, particularly'in the oil industry where the gas and vapors given off uickly deteriorate roofing materials with t eir usual waterproofing compounds. When used as a roof covering, the fabric is applied with its gas or vaporproof coating on the under side, wh1ch prevents the petroleum vapors from penetrating the coatings or applications used for renderin roofs waterproof.

he fabric is particularly adapted for sealing aprons in tank constructions of the type having floating roofs to prevent breathing losses. To enable a better understanding of the importance of this invention, brokenaway cross sectional views of such a tank are disclosed by Figs. 4 and 5, in which 2O is the cylinder wall of the tank, 21 the floating top having an upstanding cylindrical wall 22 with an inwardly extending flange at its upper edge. As will be seen, the floating to is spaced a substantial distance from the wa of the tank for the purpose of allowin for unrestricted up-and-down movement. uiding the floating top are shoe-like members 23 he d in engagement with the walls of the tank by means of springs 24. Covering the space between the float and the shoe members is a flexible apron-like member 26 having its inner portion connected to the flange of the float and its outer portion connected to the upper turned-over edges of the shoes b an suitable means, as indicated at 26. It w' l be noted that the iexible seal extends beyond the upper edges of the shoe members and contacts with the sides of the tank to form a rain-proof shedding arrangement.

Thls fabric is also particularly adapted to form a flexible seal and joint arrangement between the adjacent vertical edges of the shoe members 23, as will be seen at 27 Fig. 5. These pieces of fabric extend the full length of the shoes and are attached thereto by suitable means, as indicated at 28. It will be noted that these pieces of fabric as shown have slight bulges, which allows for extension and contraction of the sliding guide members away from and towards each other. In this use the fabric is not onl subjected to considerable mechanical wear, gut also, inasmuch as it extends down into the petroleum, it is subjected to an unusual amount of chemical and vapor deterioration.

In the application of this fabric to the above uses, the waterproof coated side is placed on the outside, and the vapor and gasproof side on the inside, facing the gas chamber.

In view of the unusual wear and deterioration, both physically and chemically, it has been very difficult to find a sealing fabric which would withstand any long continued use in these types of structures. Havin in mind these diiliculties tobe overcome, a fa ric has been produced by this invention which will withstand lon and continued use, and one that is not on y water, petroleum and vapor-proof, but also strong, durable and with high tear and wear-reslsting qualities. Along with the above characteristics, the fabric is also heat and fire-resisting, which is very important in view of the fire hazards connected with the oil industry.

What I claim is:

1. An article of manufacture comprising a base member having coatings thereon, said base member consisting of a woven fabric made from strands of fire-resisting fibrous material, one of said coatings consisting of a water-insoluble gum and the other consisting of an oil and vapor-resisting material.

2. An article of manufacture of a fiexible, wear-resisting nature, comprising a body member made of reenforced strands of asbestos libre, the body member being coated on one side with a water-insoluble gum, the other side being impregnated and coated with a petroleum and va or-prooing compound.

3. A flexible mem rane for sealing oil tanks and similar containers wherein onepside of the membrane is exposed to the weather and the opposite side' is exposed to the action of fumes from thestored li uid, said membrane comprising a exible re-resisting fabric coated on one side with a rubber compound to render it waterproof' and coated on the other side with a compound consisting of glue, lycerine and a setting agent.

4. ig flexible membrane for sealing oil tanks and similar containers wherein one side of the membrane is exposed to the-weather and the opposite side is exposed to the action of fumes from the stored liquid, said membrane comprising a reenforced fire-resistin vfabric coated on one side with a vulcaniz'ab e rubber compound, and impregnated and coated on the other side with a compound consisting of glue, lycerine and a settlng agent.

flexible membrane for sealing oil tanks and similar containers wherein one side of the mebrane is exposed to the weather and the opposite side is exposed to the action of fumes from the stored 1i uid, said membrane comprising a reen orced asbestos fabric coated on one side with a rubber comund to render it waterproof, the other side ing impregnated and coated with a Qompound to render it petroleum and vapor-resisting.

6. A tanks and similar containers wherein one side of the membrane is exposedto the weather and the op site side is expod to the action of fumes rom the stored liquid, said mem- 0 brane comprising a wire-reenforced asbestos fabric coated on one side with a rubber comund to render it waterproof, the other side ing coated with a compound consistin of lue and glycerine treated with forma deyde to render it oil and vapor-resisting.

7. A method of manufacturing a water and vapor-proof sealing fabric, which consists in applying a rubber compoundto one side of a fabric and then curing, after which the other side is impregnated and coated with a petroleum vapor-resistin compound a series of brushing and drymgapplications. 8. A method of manufacturin a water, oil and vapor-proof exible sea ing fabric which consists in applying a thin coating of rubber compound to one side -of an asbestos fabric and then curing, after which a petroleum vapor-resisting compound is applied to the other side by a series of brushing and drying applications, the fabric being treated with a setti a nt before drying.

9. A meth o manufacturin a water, oil and vaporproof flexible sea 'n which consists in applying a thin yer of a rubber compound to one side of an fabric,

fabric and then calendering and curing, after which the other side is impre nated with a protein compound by a series o brushin and drying applications, and then subjecte to a series of dipping and drying apphcations in a hardening solution -to give a coating of substantial thickness.

10. An article of manufacture com rising a fire-resisting fabric coated on one si e with a gum that is relatively impermeable to water and on the other with a protein, a softening agent, and a settin agent for the protein.

11. An article o manufacture com rising a fire-resisting fabric coated on one si e with a gum that is relatively impermeable to water and on the other with a protein, glycerine, and a setting agent for the protein. Y

12. An-article of manufacture com rising 'a fire-resisting fabric coated on one si e with a'gum that is relatively impermeable to water and on the other with a protein, glycerine, and formaldehyde.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York this 17th day of April A. D. 1929.

EDWARD H. BERGER.

fiexible membrane for sealing oil 

